A Norwood service user with special needs was presented with an award of £200 and a certificate for outstanding achievement on Friday 25 August, at a ceremony held at the Kennedy Leigh Children and Family Centre in Hendon.
Talya, 12, who has cerebral palsy, suffers from epilepsy and is partially sighted, received the accolade after she raised £13,000 for Norwood by taking part in a series of sporting challenges. The £200 prize was donated by the Jack Petchey Foundation, an organisation that gives grants to programmes and projects that benefit young people aged 11 - 25.
Talya is a member of Unity, Norwood’s recreational service for children with disabilities, which signed up to the Jack Petchey Achievement Awards Bronze Scheme earlier this summer. Under the scheme, Unity will be able to nominate a winner from one of its members every three months.
The cash award is meant to be spent on the service, with the winner choosing where the money goes. Talya has not yet decided exactly how the £200 will be spent, although she did specify that some of it should go towards “lots” of packets of Maltesers!
During the past six months, Talya ran 1.5 miles in a fun run, swam 1km and rode 10 miles on her specially adapted tricycle in Norwood’s Junior Bike Ride. On receiving the award, she said: “I enjoyed raising money for Norwood, but I felt very tired afterwards. I am happy with the certificate.”
David Harris, Norwood’s Director of Operational Services, presented Talya with the award. He said: “Talya showed immense courage and stamina to complete these tough challenges and she fully deserves this recognition.”
For further information please contact David Wosner, Public Relations Officer at Norwood on 020 8420 6942 or email david.wosner@norwood.org.uk
